Editorial: Felons should make effort before voting

Forgiveness is a concept that most major religions embrace. But there is also another concept worth considering: atonement.

Attorney General Eric Holder wants 11 states to abandon laws that strip felons of their voting rights. Holder notes that 5.8 million people have lost the right to vote because of felony convictions. His biggest problem seems to be that a high percentage of theses felons are minorities ó and likely Democratic voters.

ďAlthough well over a century has passed since post-Reconstruction states used these measures to strip African-Americans of their most fundamental rights, the impact of felony disenfranchisement on modern communities of color remains both disproportionate and unacceptable,Ē Holder said.

The contention that every time minorities are disproportionately represented in any less than flattering situation, there must be a flaw in the system grows tiresome. And we think Holder is wrong.

Were only minorities being stripped of their voting rights after committing a felony, Holder might have a point. But thatís not the case.

We do believe that Holder has made good points about long sentences for non-violent offenders and overly harsh mandatory minimum sentences. To the extent that addressing these problems would reduce the number of people losing their rights as a result of felony convictions, we agree with Holder.

But we donít agree with Holder that felonsí voting rights should be immediately restored. A high percentage of felons return to prison, and some return after being free for a very short time. It hardly seems wise to allow people who canít obey societyís laws long enough to stay out of prison to help choose the leadership of our country, state, cities and counties.

Voting is a right for citizens in good standing. Felons lost that right by disregarding the most basic element of citizenship, obeying the law. And weíre not talking about inconsequential crimes, either.

This does not mean that people who made mistakes, even serious mistakes, should be punished forever. Those who can demonstrate that they are ready to be positive contributors to society have a path to return to full citizenship. Felons in many states do have a way to get their civil rights restored.

The process isnít as simple as renewing a car tag or paying a parking fine, and it shouldnít be. After disregarding the most basic requirements of citizenship, felons should be required to go to a little trouble to regain full privileges.

Holder wants to make it easier than that because he knows most felons donít really care enough about their voting rights to go through the process. Well, life isnít always easy. But in this case it does seem fair.

A version of this editorial first appeared in the Tuscaloosa News, a Halifax Media Group newspaper in Alabama.